SOCCERROO FOX Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 Can't wait but nervous about tonights stage going to be epic, Contador has come out publicly and said he will attack. The Schelks know they need more tme to hold off Cadel and Contador come the TT. Hope Cadel can hold strong and bide his time, either way it will be an exciting stage.
New England Fox Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 I really don't think any of the gc guys will attack on this stage, think its gonna be a case of a breakaway surviving and all the contenders marking each other up the mountain.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 I really don't think any of the gc guys will attack on this stage, think its gonna be a case of a breakaway surviving and all the contenders marking each other up the mountain. I'm hoping it will be a lot like up the pyrennes one will attack but then the others will respond and it will be that the whole way between, Schleks, Basso, Evans, Contador and Cunego. Schlek and Contador will be the aggressors and Evans defending everything, Cunego will just try to hold on. Basso will bide his time then attack late and hope no one responds. Sammy Sanchez may also be up there some where as well.
shen Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 I'm hoping it will be a lot like up the pyrennes one will attack but then the others will respond and it will be that the whole way between, Schleks, Basso, Evans, Contador and Cunego. Schlek and Contador will be the aggressors and Evans defending everything, Cunego will just try to hold on. Basso will bide his time then attack late and hope no one responds. Sammy Sanchez may also be up there some where as well. But not in the coming stage. It's flat with a bob at the end. Stage 18 and 19 is where it's going to happen, with maybe a few seconds won and lost on stage 17.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 Breakaway attempt 100 this stage looks set to fail
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 Wow i'm getting excited now, good stage for Cadel pinched a couple of seconds on Contador 22 on Voekler and more importantly i think i'm correct in saying it was over a minute on Andy Schlek. Frank will now lead the team but Andy not looking strong Well worth the little sleep i'm getting
shen Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 Wow i'm getting excited now, good stage for Cadel pinched a couple of seconds on Contador 22 on Voekler and more importantly i think i'm correct in saying it was over a minute on Andy Schlek. Frank will now lead the team but Andy not looking strong Well worth the little sleep i'm getting Well I'm not enjoying the taste of humble pie. Great finish to the stage. Hushovd is an absolute monster. Been the Norwego-French Tour so far, now let's see if Evans can finally get the win he's chased for so long...
New England Fox Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 Really surprising to see pretty much everyone apart from Contador, Sanchez and Evans struggle so much on a Cat 2 climb. Evans is really the only one who hasn't looked vulnerable on any stage so far. Looks like Contador is coming back into form while the Schlecks are starting to struggle. Certainly gonna be an interesting 3 days in the alps. Oh and yesterday I was reading an article where the Schelck brothers were complaining about the lack of aggression from the GC contenders thus far in the race.....definitely a case of careful what you wish for boys .
Guest MattP Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 Have to fancy Evans now from what I saw today. Thought Andy Schleck was winning it this year as well, can;t see after the way he got dropped today, expecting a big move from Contador soon.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 19 July 2011 Posted 19 July 2011 Well I'm not enjoying the taste of humble pie. Great finish to the stage. Hushovd is an absolute monster. Been the Norwego-French Tour so far, now let's see if Evans can finally get the win he's chased for so long... I just thought last night it was a chance for Contador to attack on a smaller climb and really use his pace and power. If it back fired he wouldn't lose too much ground not like the Alps if he attacks early and it back fires he still has a gruelling climb to try to negate the counter attacks. Not enjoying all this talk of Cadel winning as it just churns my guts up inside and makes me nervous, but he is looking good and is a good time trialist.
Jonezy Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Wow, race on. They should have destroyed Contador, when they had the chance in the Pyrenees. Now he will have momentum and motivation to go rampaging in the Alps. Exciting. Cadel still looks strong, but doesn't he normally have at least one so-so day? If he manage to stay clear of that, then he looks set to finally stand atop on the podium in Paris. Still everything is wide open, which makes a nice change from the boring years of Armstrong dominance. Can't believe what two Norwegian riders have done in this tour. Days in yellow and 3 stage wins! There must be a massive cycling buzz in Norway these days.
shen Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Wow, race on. They should have destroyed Contador, when they had the chance in the Pyrenees. Now he will have momentum and motivation to go rampaging in the Alps. Exciting. Cadel still looks strong, but doesn't he normally have at least one so-so day? If he manage to stay clear of that, then he looks set to finally stand atop on the podium in Paris. Still everything is wide open, which makes a nice change from the boring years of Armstrong dominance. Can't believe what two Norwegian riders have done in this tour. Days in yellow and 3 stage wins! There must be a massive cycling buzz in Norway these days. Cadel looks very confident and determined to see this through. Even on a bad day, I don't think he'll lose minutes on Contador in the mountains. But with Basso, the Schlecks and Contador forced to go on the attack, it is going to be very interesting. Sanchez for the podium by the way...
Jonezy Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Cadel looks very confident and determined to see this through. Even on a bad day, I don't think he'll lose minutes on Contador in the mountains. But with Basso, the Schlecks and Contador forced to go on the attack, it is going to be very interesting. Sanchez for the podium by the way... With the descents today, Samuel Sanchez could be a good guess on a stage win today. Probably going to be a breakaway win yet again though. Also, don't forget Voeckler. That yellow jersey has given him wings. Exciting days ahead.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Settling in for another late one tonight, looking at the stage with the big descent in to the last steep but short climb it looks to suit Cadel but he is the one they are trying to break so not sure how this one will turn out. One thing is for sure i'm nervous and excited. I appoligise for constantly posting about Cadel in here but i love my sport and support every national team in every sport. We won the world cup of netball in a thrilling match 2 weeks ago and i was yelling at the tv like a fanatic. So i know and love my sport (was even flicking over during last nights stage to the Austalian snooker open) and even with Australias rich history in sport i would go as far to say if Cadel wins the TDF, it will go down as the greatest sporting achivement in the history of Australian sport. Cadel as the greatest Aus Athlete of all time as well.
shen Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Settling in for another late one tonight, looking at the stage with the big descent in to the last steep but short climb it looks to suit Cadel but he is the one they are trying to break so not sure how this one will turn out. One thing is for sure i'm nervous and excited. I appoligise for constantly posting about Cadel in here but i love my sport and support every national team in every sport. We won the world cup of netball in a thrilling match 2 weeks ago and i was yelling at the tv like a fanatic. So i know and love my sport (was even flicking over during last nights stage to the Austalian snooker open) and even with Australias rich history in sport i would go as far to say if Cadel wins the TDF, it will go down as the greatest sporting achivement in the history of Australian sport. Cadel as the greatest Aus Athlete of all time as well. Riis instantly became a national hero after 1996 maybe even the greatest sporting hero in the country's history, but imagine the huge disappointment, when he announced he had been doped. Of course almost everyone was doubting whether he did it clean, and with admittances coming from a whole host of riders who were racing at the time those suspicions only grew. Despite this, many clinged on in the vain hope that he was legit. Alas. Same thing again with Rasmussen when he was pulled out. Would just be extra careful lauding especially cyclists and TdF exploits if I were you. Besides, you have some absolutely legendary athletes in Freeman, Thorpe, Hackett, Norman, Brabham, Laver, Court, Emerson not to mention rugby or cricket stars (whom I know little about I admit). One TdF win surely doesn't measure up to their achievements...?
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Riis instantly became a national hero after 1996 maybe even the greatest sporting hero in the country's history, but imagine the huge disappointment, when he announced he had been doped. Of course almost everyone was doubting whether he did it clean, and with admittances coming from a whole host of riders who were racing at the time those suspicions only grew. Despite this, many clinged on in the vain hope that he was legit. Alas. Same thing again with Rasmussen when he was pulled out. Would just be extra careful lauding especially cyclists and TdF exploits if I were you. Besides, you have some absolutely legendary athletes in Freeman, Thorpe, Hackett, Norman, Brabham, Laver, Court, Emerson not to mention rugby or cricket stars (whom I know little about I admit). One TdF win surely doesn't measure up to their achievements...? Knowing where Cadel comes from and the Austrlaian mentality, i have no doubt in my mind the Cadel is clean. It's not like he has burst on to the scene or anything like that. He was talked up as GC contender a few years before he rode in the tour and people had a high opinion of him when he was a WC in mountain biking. That's the thing because we have had many good golfers, many good tennis players, outstanding cricketers, AFL and rugby players, runners swimmers and so on. Tour de france winners are very rare it's grueeling and we haven't had any one apart from Cadel ( Phil Anderson did come 6th in the 90's) this is why he may go down as one of the greatest. Bradman may have something to say about that tho (Arguabbly the worlds greatest ever cricketer from the 30's and 40's)
shen Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Knowing where Cadel comes from and the Austrlaian mentality, i have no doubt in my mind the Cadel is clean. It's not like he has burst on to the scene or anything like that. He was talked up as GC contender a few years before he rode in the tour and people had a high opinion of him when he was a WC in mountain biking. Riis had been around for a long time and been a 'contender' (noting that Indurain was so dominant no-one would really come close) for a few years before taking it himself. He was the honest and upfront guy from Jylland (basically provincial area), the people's hero really. And know who else was a WC in mountain biking before he went on to road cycling? A certain Mr Rasmussen...
Jonezy Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Damn, more Norwegian glory. I'm a very jealous Scandinavian compatriot.... Say what you want, but Contador is by far the most entertaining of the favorites. Good comeback by Evans and the Schlecks to catch up on the last flat bit, but Voeckler and Basso lost time again. Next two days are going to be massive.
shen Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Damn, more Norwegian glory. I'm a very jealous Scandinavian compatriot.... Say what you want, but Contador is by far the most entertaining of the favorites. Good comeback by Evans and the Schlecks to catch up on the last flat bit, but Voeckler and Basso lost time again. Next two days are going to be massive. They are two fantastic riders, Hagen and Hushovd. We'll see a lot more of the former the next few years, that's for sure. Four stage victories and seven days in yellow for the only two Norwegians in the peloton. Awesome. Contador is certainly making things happen, but it's because of Voeckler that the race has become this exciting in my opinion.. Again it's Sanchez who hangs on. He'll be on the podium for sure if his form lasts to Paris.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 20 July 2011 Posted 20 July 2011 Was watching the worst coverage last night, all they showed was Contador and Voekler on the decsent. Then on the flat at the end Voekler and Contador, so i had no idea how far back Cadel was until he just appeared with Contador and Sanchez at the end.........that was greeted with cheers from my self.
Jonezy Posted 21 July 2011 Posted 21 July 2011 Was watching the worst coverage last night, all they showed was Contador and Voekler on the decsent. Then on the flat at the end Voekler and Contador, so i had no idea how far back Cadel was until he just appeared with Contador and Sanchez at the end.........that was greeted with cheers from my self. They had TV coverage problems yesterday, because the road on that last climb and descent was very small, so the motorcycles couldn't get around as easily as normal. Ready for the Galibier today Soccerroo? Contador and Schlecks are bound to attack, but can they shake Cadel? Exciting day ahead. Norway can't win again surely.....
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 21 July 2011 Posted 21 July 2011 They had TV coverage problems yesterday, because the road on that last climb and descent was very small, so the motorcycles couldn't get around as easily as normal. Ready for the Galibier today Soccerroo? Contador and Schlecks are bound to attack, but can they shake Cadel? Exciting day ahead. Norway can't win again surely..... To tell you the truth i'm not sure who is more tired the riders after a long tour or me? My working week routine is up at 6am work, then gym home at 8pm dinner then pot around the house then coverage starts at 10pm finishes 130am-2pm get some kip then 6am do it all again. Last couple of nights i've gone out for dinner and tonight is the pub. So in short i'm battling more than a sprinter in the alps, but if Cadel can win it will all be worth it
New England Fox Posted 21 July 2011 Posted 21 July 2011 I'm the opposite to Soccerroo, coverage here starts at 7am, which is insanely early for me, but here i am all the same.
Jonezy Posted 21 July 2011 Posted 21 July 2011 Kudos to Leopard Trek for making the race hard. Andy Schleck looks like, he means business today. Its like the silence before a big storm right now. Also kudos to my fellow cycling and Leicester fans watching this at crazy hours in different parts of the world. Boom Andy attacked early.... Wow!
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